$250,000 Bail for Attempted Homicide – Armed Robbery of Casino

The charges against 56 year-old Steven Antill were dramatically increased on Monday for allegedly shooting at pursuers after robbing the Nickel Ante Casino on Friday night.

At his Missoula Justice Court appearance on Monday, Deputy County Attorney Mark Handelman asked for $250,000 bail, after charges of attempted deliberate homicide were added to armed robbery and criminal endangerment.

“The charges stem from the defendant holding up a casino at gunpoint, but he was also holding up a gun covered with a clear plastic bag to catch any spent shells if he had to use the gun,” Handelman said. “The gun was used during the attempted escape when he attempted to kill two patrons who followed him out of the casino during that escape.”

Court documents state that after Antill fled the casino, he was pursued by two of the patrons. He shot several rounds at one witness and all the rounds missed, but struck the casino. He shot at another pursuer, and when the bullet impacted the casino’s window, shards of glass struck the pursuer’s face.

“The defendant had tickets to Alaska and was clearly intending to leave the state,” he said. “He has a criminal history that dates back to the 1980’s, but more notably his interactions with law enforcement have generated some disturbing quotes, including the defendant’s intention to ‘go out in a blaze of glory’.”

Judge Landee Holloway set bail for Antill at $250,000 after he asked for representation from the Missoula Public Defender’s Office.